Evaluating Sure Start, Head Start, and Early Head Start: Finding Their Signals Amidst Methodological Static

Abstract

Evaluations of three national early childhood programs–Sure Start in England and Head Start and Early Head Start in the United States–are examined to determine what their respective methodological strengths and weaknesses are and to detect impacts or signals common to all of these evaluations. These shared signals include improved family functioning and parenting practices and strong signs of parental and family empowerment. These parental and family signals remind practitioners and policymakers that the Sure Start, Head Start, and Early Head Start programs are beneficial not only for the children served but for the parents and families served as well. These findings have important implications for the content and scope of current and newly created publicly supported early childhood programs.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I thank Edward Zigler, Lois-Ellin Datta, and several anonymous reviewers for providing feedback on earlier versions of this paper. Their comments improved the quality of this article.